28/11/2004
Real crush Levante with second half goal salvo
Real Madrid gave a stunning exhibition of
finishing power to crush Levante 5-0 at the Bernabeu in the Primera Liga
on Sunday.
The home side had struggled to impose themselves on their modest
opponents for most of the first half, but burst into life two minutes
before the break when Ronaldo fired in at the near post after a
precision pass from David Beckham.
Real then put the result beyond doubt with a devastating three-goal
salvo at the start of the second half featuring spectacular strikes from
Luis Figo and Beckham and a second goal from Ronaldo.
Substitute Michael Owen completed the rout three minutes from time when
he steered home under keeper Juan Luis Mora after a brilliant
through-ball from the outstanding Guti.
The win kept Real in second place in the standings, seven points behind
leaders Barcelona who claimed a nervous 2-1 win over Getafe on Saturday.
Espanyol, who beat Atletico Madrid 2-1 on Saturday, are in third, a
further two points behind and Real Betis moved up to fourth after their
2-1 win at home to Villarreal.
Osasuna produced one of the results of the day when they hammered
high-flying Sevilla 4-1 at home, a win that pushed them up to sixth,
while Deportivo Coruna are in seventh after surrendering a two-goal lead
to draw 2-2 at home to Real Sociedad.
Levante, who have surprised many by their early season form on their
return to the top flight, made a confident start at the Bernabeu, giving
Real keeper Iker Casillas several scares in the opening minutes.
MIDFIELD RESHUFFLE
With Zinedine Zidane missing through a back injury, Real coach Mariano
Garcia Remon opted to reshuffle his midfield, switching Beckham to the
right, Figo to the left and bringing Albert Celades into the middle.
The move gave Guti more space in the centre, but Real struggled to
manufacture any clear chances in the first half hour.
But just as the crowd were getting restless, Ronaldo began the goal
spree with a trademark finish in the 43rd minute.
Beckham wafted a perfectly weighted pass to the edge of the area, the
Brazilian controlled with his chest, shook off the attentions of a
defender and then fired in at the near post.
Real then floored their opponents with three goals in the space of five
second-half minutes.
Figo made it 2-0 when he let fly from 30 metres out after the Levante
defence had backed off when he picked up the ball on the halfway line.
Levante were still reeling from the blow when Ronaldo hit them again,
this time slotting home from 10 metres after controlling a pass from
Celades with his toe.
Not to be outdone by Figo, Beckham added a third with an action-replay
of the Portuguese midfielder's strike, cutting inside former Leeds
United defender Ian Harte before firing into the top of the net from the
same distance.
England team mate Owen, who had replaced Raul midway through the second
half, completed the rout three minutes from time with a cool finish
after Guti had dinked the ball between two defenders and poked the ball
into his path.